We describe a program of astrometric measurements (positions and
proper motions) on crowded star fields in the cores of globular
clusters and in the nuclei of several nearby galaxies which we propose
to carry out with the Space Interferometry Mission. These observations
will permit accurate values and limits to be placed on the masses of
the black holes which are thought to be lurking in these regions of
enormously high stellar density. The science can be accomplished even
if an imaging capability with a full and complete set of baselines
cannot be provided with SIM.
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Last modified June 10, 2001.
Roeland van der Marel,
marel@stsci.edu.
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